138 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



household pets, but none of them were so good-natured and 

 docile as this young lion. We were sorry to break up our 

 shooting- camp when we had to return to our respective dis- 

 tricts ; and poor Bowles never lived to make his second excur- 

 sion to the Geer, for within six months of our parting at 

 Eaanpore he was laid in the graveyard at Ahmedabad. 



One of our favourite hunting grounds was at Santhul, 

 about four miles east of Dholka. Here the Samburmuttee 

 river flows over a wide sandy bed, having, in many parts, 

 large patches of cypress, in the cool shade of which the wild 

 pigs delight to lie during the heat of the day. My men were 

 always on the look-out, and when I learned from them that there 

 were fair hunting prospects, I sent intimation to my friends 

 in the cantonment, and forthwith a meet of the Hunt was 

 arranged, and was attended by all lovers of the noble sport 

 who could get leave of absence. 



At one of these meets I wandered out one morning near 

 the tents, and came on the bed of an extensive pond, which, 

 with the exception of three or four deep holes about eight 

 yards in width, was dried up. As I stood near one of these 

 holes I observed a large fish rise to the surface, and I at once 

 concluded that all the fish of the pond were probably collected 

 in these holes. I accordingly returned in the evening with 

 one or two of the party, taking with me the casting-net which 

 I always carried in my shooting-cart. This I threw into the 

 largest hole, and drew it out filled with fish of several kinds, 

 and of all sizes. Subsequent casts were equally successful, 

 and we returned to the tents with a good supply. 



I was hunting at Santhul with my friend Major Johnson, 

 and in some sugar-canes near the river we started a stout boar. 

 Johnson was well mounted on a hunter of good repute, while 

 I had only my galloway, a strong beast about 13.3 in height. 



